Wedge-splitter.



J. AGY.

WEDGE SPLITTER. APPLICATION FILED gnaw-1911.

Patented May 28, 1912.

ib 8 l5 COLUMBIA PLlmomiAPid (LO-,WASHINCITON D c WEDGE SPLITTER. APYLIOATION FILED AUG. 28, 1911.

J. AGY.

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Patented May 28, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CC.,"'1ASHINGTON, D. d.

JOHN AGY, or KINGFISHER? OKLAHOMA.

WEDGE-SPLITTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented May 28,1912.

Application filed. August 28, 1911. Serial No. 646,398.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN AGY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kingfisher,

in the county of Kingfisher and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wedge-Split-ters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it'appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to improvements in wedge splitting machines.

One object of the invention is to provide.

a wedge splitting machine having means whereby the wedges after being cut or split are automatically discharged from the ma chine.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character having means whereby the Wedge holding plate or block is adjusted to cause the wedges to be cut to a greater or less thiclmess and length.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed;

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of my improved wedge splitting machine; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a side view with one side of the. machine removed and the cutting or splitting blade shown in section and in a retracted position ;.Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the blade in a projected or operative position; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; 6

is a detail perspective View of the wedge cutting or splitting blade Fig. 7 is a similar view of the work supporting and discharging plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the supporting frame of the machine, said frame being preferably formed in two longitudinal sections which are bolted or otherwise secured together and are rabbeted on their inner-sides to form a centrally disposed channel 2. The rabbeted sides of the sections 1' are cut away near the front ends thereof to form a.

transverse slot or recess 3 in the outer portion of which and suitably secured between the adjacent ends of the sections 1 is a stop block 4: against which the cutting or splitting blade strikes at the end of each working stroke. The rear ends of the rabbeted inner sides of the sections ,1 are also cut away to form alever receiving space 5 and on the lower edges of this end of the sections are formed depending parallel bearing lugs 6 between which is pivotally mounted a bell crank blade operating lever 7, one arm of which projects forwardly beneath the machine and has connected thereto an operating chain or cable 8, while the other member-or arm of the lever projects upwardly in the space between this end of the sections 1 and is connected by a link or operating rod 8 to a cutting blade 9. The blade9 is preferably in the form of a fiat plate the ends of which are beveled to form reversed and either end brought into working position. The blade 9 is slidably mounted in longitudinally disposed guide recesses 10 formed in the opposite rabbeted sides of the sections 1 of the machine and has formed in its body a centrally disposed slot 11 with which is engaged a screw 12 by means of whicha connecting block 13 is adjustably secured to theblade. The block 13 is provided on its outer end with an apertured lug with which is pivotally connected the forward'end of the link or operating rod 8. By adjustably connecting the rod 8 to the blade in the manner described the stroke of the latter may be regulated and any wear occurring from the frequent sharpening of the blade may be provided for. The bolt for connectingthe end of the rod 8 with the block is preferably in the form of an eye bolt 14 and with the eye of the same is connectedone end of a blade retracting spring 15 the opposite end of which is connected to a hook 16 or other suitable means on the rear end of the machine as shown. By thus connecting the cutting or splitting blade 9 with the operating lever 7 it will be seen that the blade may be forcibly projected on its working stroke and quickly retracted by the spring 15.

Pivotally mounted in the recess 3 between the forward end of the sections of the machine frame is a work supporting plate 17 one end of which is of greater thickness than the other end and said thickened portion has its free end beveled or formed at an angle to fit the beveled or angular forward end of the rabbeted inner sides of the sections 1 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. At this time the plate will be disposed at an inclination and will hold the work at an angle so that when the blade is projected and forced through the wood a wedge or tapered piece will be cut or split from the block or piece of wood as shown. After the wedge has thus been formed and the blade retracted, the weight of the wedge on the supporting plate together with the weight of the thicker end of the plate, will over-balance the same and the thicker end thereof will swing downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thus discharging the finished wedge from the machine.

In order that wedges of diiferent thickness and taper may be formed by the machine, I provide means for adjusting the work supporting plate to a proper angle for supporting the work in position to be cut or split. This comprises an adjusting screw 19 which is operatively engaged with a threaded aperture formed in a screw supporting lug 20 arranged on the inner side of the forward recessed portion of one of the sections of the frame as clearly shown in the drawings. The upper end of the screw is adapted to be engaged with the under side of the thin outer end of the plate 17 so that when said screw is turned to a greater or less extent in the proper direction the plate will be tilted and held at the desired angle.

In operation the work or piece of wood from which the wedge is to be cut or split is placed in the recess 3 between the outer ends of the sections and upon the support ing plate 17, where it will be supported at an angle or inclination and is in position to receive the cutting blade which is projected into and through the same by the lever Tin the manner described. The blade after being thus projected through the work is retracted by the spring 15 whereupon the plate 17 will swing downwardly and discharge the finished wedge therefrom in the manner described.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood with out requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a wedge splitting machine, a supporting frame, a splitting blade operatively mounted in said frame, a work holding plate pivotally mounted in one end of said frame and adapted to support the work in position to receive said cutting blade and to swing downwardly and discharge the wedge after the cutting blade has been retracted, a blade projecting lever, an operating rod to connect said lever with said blade whereby the latter may be projected, and a spring to retract said blade after being projected by said lever.

2. In a wedge splitting machine, the combination with a frame comprising two side sections spaced apart and having guides on their inner faces, a stop block connecting their front ends and leaving a recess between it and the front ends of said guides, a blade slidably'mounted in the guides, and a workholding plate pivotally mounted within said recess and having its rear end weighted whereby after the work is cut the plate tilts automatically and the finished product is discharged.

3. In a wedge splitting machine, the com bination with a frame comprising two side sections spaced apart and having guides on their inner faces, a stop block connecting their front ends and leaving a recess between it and the front ends of said guides, a blade slidably mounted in the guides, a work-holding plate pivotally mounted within said recess and having its rear end weighted whereby after the work is cut the plate tilts automatically and the finished product is discharged, a lug in the frame, and a set screw passing upward through said lug beneath the lighter end of said plates.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN AGY.

Witnesses O. L. CRARY, E. M. IVESTFALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

